Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - DIY Randonneur bike

I have been casually looking at Randonneuring and am thinking about dipping my toe in the water, so to speak. Though I love all the Rivendell, carradice, hammered aluminum fenders, et.al., I do not have that sort of dipodable cash. What I do have is ALOT of older lightweight/sport frames and parts.

I have, for example an all-orignial '74 Peugeot UE-8. Seems to be ready to go out of the gate for such activities, but I am thinking something with more modern components.

I have disassembled and awaiting direction two bikes.

1). '74 Campania which from my understanding was somebody's imitation of Italvega/specialized, buying frames from Japan, assembling them with marginal to mid-level components in California and selling them here int he US. The frame is light, chromed-under-paint DB steel of unknown origins. The tube angles are relatively shallow. It has original, amongst other things, DA hubs w/alloy Weinmann 27" rims, Sakae Royal cranks, stem and randonnear bars, bar-end shifters, and Shimano centerpulls. The bike needs total rehab, and I would take no issue rebuilding around the frame with newer stuff. I have never riden this bike, so it may suck all around, but I would like to do something with it.

2). Early '80's Univega Gran Premio. This is/was a very nice club racer (nice cut-outs on the lugs and all)for its day and ome of the most comfortable bikes I own. It needs complete rehab. Most of the parts are not original. I have spent some time trying to collect original spec parts, but have not been completely able to identify what the original cranks were (I have Sugino Aeros on it now). I am not sure this bike is worth the full Cycle-Art level restoration which would be required to bring it back to it's glory days. I can have it powder coated and build it up as a Randonneur for far less and proabably enjoy it more.

Suggestions? Should I find something else?

Thanks!

Any bike will do... accessories often depend on the locale and the rider.

Some folks roll on carbon fiber wonder racing machines, and others on fixed Raliegh conversions.
Some with aerobars and others with upright city style bars.
Some with fenders and others ride where they don't get wet (often).

Pick the bike that you can be comfortable on all day... and then again the next day.
Choose the components that make you happy and that you are comfortable using.
Make it your own - and add the stuff as you gain experience that make sense for the type of riding you do.

For me - this means options for wider tires, fenders, a place to mount my lights, and a good leather saddle.

I just did a double on my Cross Check; with a front platform rack and bag, fenders, etc... decked out. I rode for a while with a guy on a 1980s Peugot single-speed with a nicked up paintjob. There were people riding $6000 carbon speed-machines.
Just what bmike said: Pick the bike you're comfortable on all day.

I just did a double on my Cross Check; with a front platform rack and bag, fenders, etc... decked out. I rode for a while with a guy on a 1980s Peugot single-speed with a nicked up paintjob. There were people riding $6000 carbon speed-machines.
Just what bmike said: Pick the bike you're comfortable on all day.

Just picked up a Mark's Rack from Riv... going to put it on my Ti wonder LD machine... or maybe on the Cross Check.

Just picked up a Mark's Rack from Riv... going to put it on my Ti wonder LD machine... or maybe on the Cross Check.

Pix when you get it on there. :)

I've just got a cheap-o Nashbar 6-packer rack (the $7 one) and a homebrewed modified mount for the Nashbar Elite h'bar bag, but it's worked really well for me so far. I don't see any need to swap it out for anything more expensive just yet... although a Nitto M-12 and an Ostrich bag would look sweet.

Yeah, you don't need something new and ridiculously expensive. What you need is something that is comfortable and reliable.

Some older frames, especially steel, should be fine for LD as long as they're in good shape and have a geometry you like. Since LD events aren't competitive, some older tech works out just fine (downtube or bar-end shifters), while other tech belongs in the trash (Biopace chainrings, anyone?).

I don't see much point in tricking out a classic frame with period-specific parts if your intention is to use it for centuries and ultras. Part of it is that it's very hard to get untouched components, and used components aren't notable for their reliability. The other part of it is that LD rides can get pretty harsh, e.g. bad surfaces, grit, etc. I prefer utility over flash for long rides; I don't want to be worried about trashing a nice bike.

That's basically what I did with my Nishiki Prestige and Univega Specialissima. I spent quite a bit on the Univega, but it's still several hundred dollars less than a Rivendell frame (except the Bleriot)

lamplight - your univega is gorgeous.

i myself am working on cleaning up an 84 specialized expedition for randonneuring a la rivendell. already upgraded the cockpit and now im moving down into the drive train.

i love the aesthetic of old steel bikes. if you start with one and then upgrade it to your spec, you can have an amazing bike for a fraction of the cost. i love hauling stuff with it and using it for errands, a true utility bike.

can you post pictures of the two bikes?

i think you should go with the univega since you know its comfortable. dont worry about not having it period correct...if modern equipment will get you out on the bike more then its worth it.

lamplight - your univega is gorgeous.

Thank you. :)

I have, for example an all-orignial '74 Peugeot UE-8. Seems to be ready to go out of the gate for such activities, but I am thinking something with more modern components.


Unless you really want to keep the UE-8 all original, why not just equip it w/ newer stuff (especially drivetrain and wheels)? Those older Peugeots ride and handle FAR better than their tubing and components would indicate, and they'd definitely carry a rando load better than either of the other bikes you've got. Add a nice set of light-ish wheels and clicky shifters, and you'd be hard pressed to find something better for randonneuring at a price under a few grand.

SP
Bend, OR